Carroll undoubtedly recognizes that the teams making it to, and winning the Super Bowl, have a proficient quarterback that can carry their team.

He had a bit of tangible evidence against Baltimore.

Despite turnovers giving the Seahawks several short fields, they settled for five field goals. The team needs an upgrade at quarterback if they hope to do more than just make the playoffs.

Until Carroll is able to find that player, he will continue to say Tarvaris Jackson will work within their system. But rest assured, as soon as Carroll and John Schneider can find a star quarterback, they will be making a change.

7. Dan Persa, Northwestern, 6'1", 210 Pounds

Dan Persa isn't finding his name on too many draft boards. Not that he's looking.

An achilles injury caused Persa to miss the end of last season and first three games of 2011. He's also battled turf toe and a shoulder issue this season.

The missed time could be part of why the All-Big Ten quarterback hasn't received much mention for the 2012 draft.

He has good running abilities and makes solid throws.

I do question how Persa will do with deep passes. But his ability to throw on the run should attract coaching staffs, like Seattle's, that value a mobile quarterback.

He has shown great scramble ability. But unlike running quarterbacks, he still keeps an eye downfield and finds receivers on the move, which I missed while watching tape.

What coach Carroll may like most about Persa is he is simply a football player. He works hard in the weight room and on the field and is a tough competitor. He's a smart athlete, which should be obvious given the college he attends.

Regardless of whom Seattle drafts in the early rounds, they should grab Persa in the sixth or seventh round if he is still on the board.

If they don't, my reaction will likely be similar to the fit I threw when they didn't draft Jeron Johnson in the 2011 draft.

Seattle made up for that mistake by signing Johnson as an undrafted free agent. They won't likely have that opportunity with Persa.

6. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M, 6'4", 222 Pounds

I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but some said neither did me predicting Seattle to lose in Dallas and then beat the Ravens at home.

The issue I have with Tannehill is he is likely several years away from playing in the NFL. Seattle doesn't have the time to wait for him; for that reason he belongs further down this list.

I like what Tannehill has grown into as a passer in just a few seasons at the position. His potential to be a very good NFL quarterback pushes him ahead of Foles as a guy to grab in the second round, should he still be on the board.

The middle of this list represents an average of his potential and Seattle's need for a player that can start in 2012 or 2013.

Tannehill is a fast quarterback that can run with the ball. However, he can also throw well on the move, making him a good fit for Darrell Bevell's offense in Seattle.

The A&M offense does feature a lot of short routes. This has inflated Tannehill's completion percentage, which is troublesome considering his lower-end completion percentage.

He has shown proficiency with intermediate passes, though.

The biggest issue for Tannehill will be reading defenses and decision making. He has thrown several ill-advised passes this season.

Granted, quarterbacks try to force a throw here and there. At times pressure or contact by a defender can lead to a poor decision or throw. But Tannehill has made quick throws that made no sense from the moment he let go of the ball.

That will take time to fix, and time is not a luxury the Seahawks have.

4. Nick Foles, Arizona, 6'5", 240 Pounds

While Nick Foles isn't getting the same attention as some other quarterbacks in this draft class, I like Seattle's odds of snagging him with a second-round pick.

Foles does lack the speed Seattle seems to want in their quarterback—his combine 40 figure should come in under five seconds, but it will likely be above 4.9.

I don't see that as a deal-breaker for Seattle, though. Charlie Whitehurst isn't the fastest quarterback on the field, either.

Foles tends to throw a lot of short passes, which does inflate his completion percentage. I'm not totally convinced he's a top option for the deep ball, which is something the Seahawks will want given their receiver corps.

Foles may need more than the one season the Seahawks will want to wait for their new quarterback to take over.

However, his size and pocket presence could help turn him into an elite NFL quarterback.

1. Matt Barkley, USC, 6'2", 200 Pounds

My biggest concern with dropping Matt Barkley into the top slot is I'm not sure he'll be available.

The top three quarterbacks on this ranking all have a year of eligibility remaining.

It is unlikely Luck would return to Stanford and play without several of his top offensive linemen.

Griffin is also likely to declare for the NFL draft, as he will likely have his graduate degree by the end of the season.

Barkley, on the other hand, is concerned with abandoning his teammates. Further, a return for his senior season could lead to a Pac-12 championship, national title game and a run for the Heisman Trophy.

If he does come out, don't be surprised to see his former college coach, Pete Carroll, do whatever he can to draft the franchise prospect.

Some analysts and fans believe Carroll will want Barkley because of the USC connection. They point to other players that Carroll has given opportunities to, such as Mike Williams.

However, LenDale White, Lawrence Jackson and Lofa Tatupu can attest to the fact Carroll doesn't cut his former players any slack.

Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer are quarterbacks Carroll didn't go out of his way or over-spend to get.

The reason Carroll will want Barkley is a solid mix of scramble ability, arm strength and decision-making that should make him a quality NFL quarterback.

Add in his great accuracy and Barkley could be a very special quarterback.

The Seattle Seahawks hope he comes in and is their missing piece for a championship team.